Associate Financial Advisor (with long-term potential to buy the advisory practice)

Location: Remote with periodic meetings in person
Type: Full time independent contractor, approx. 40 hours/week, 48 weeks/year
Compensation: Starting at $82k/year ($70k base+3% retirement+7.7% tax+$500/month health) with performance-linked increases.  Significant upside is possible if we have a good fit working together.

Position & Opportunity

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful and measurable positive impact in the world within a nationally recognized mission-driven investment firm managing over $2 billion in client assets.

Lead advisor seeks a values-aligned Associate Financial Advisor eager to work in the socially responsible/impact investing industry.  The role will start with a client service and operations focus and develop into a full Associate Financial Advisor role over the next 3-5 years. Longer-term, this role could expand into Lead Advisor with the opportunity to purchase a book of business.

This role involves hands-on client and operational support, active participation in investment strategy, portfolio construction, and financial planning, and long-term leadership and ownership potential. You’ll work alongside the lead advisor to deliver thoughtful, exceptional service to our clients and support the practice’s operations, while gradually taking a leadership role.

As a self-employed independent contractor running your own business, you’ll be responsible for paying your own self-employment taxes and other expenses such as supplies and equipment (i.e. Windows-based laptop), and providing for your own retirement and health insurance if desired.  You’ll also have a great deal of flexibility to decide where, when, and how to complete agreed-upon tasks.

Roles & Responsibilities

You’ll begin in the first three roles below, and add the Associate Financial Advisor responsibilities over time.

1. Client Service Associate: Collaborate with lead advisor, clients, Charles Schwab (our custodian) and outside investment managers on the client onboarding process and ongoing client service.

• Build trusted relationships with clients and Natural Investments colleagues through clear communication, reliability, and responsiveness with a friendly & professional style.
• Own the client account opening, maintenance, transfer, and compliance processes.
  • Pre-fill Schwab, alternative investment, and internal Natural Investments forms.
  • Create DocuSign and Schwab envelopes, coordinate with clients and counterparties, and manage the process through completion.
• Use Redtail CRM to document client meetings and information, and coordinate personal and team activities/workflows.
• Support clients with tax form requirements & delivery, particularly in March and early April.

1. Operations Associate: Collaborate with lead advisor on investment & financial planning operations.

• Assist with model portfolio maintenance and client portfolio construction & updating.
• Assist with alternative investment due diligence, monitoring, and client suitability assessment.
• Execute basic account rebalances and cash raises/deployments in Eclipse rebalancing system.
• Assist with quarterly client billing & reporting process.
• Assist with tracking manual positions (those without automated data feeds) in our systems.
• Assist with MoneyGuide Pro (financial planning) and Holistiplan (tax modeling) data entry.
• Run Sustainalytics reports and create other custom analyses on client portfolios.

1. Team Member: Be an engaged, contributing member of the diverse Natural Investments team.

• Participate in our 2 hour monthly team meetings.
• Participate in our 3 day annual retreat (lodging, meals, and most travel will be covered).
• Our practice will also hold 1 day annual retreats requiring minimal additional travel.
• Participate in periodic team JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) trainings.
• Understand and meet the firm’s compliance requirements.

1. Associate Financial Advisor: Independently lead and execute investment, financial planning, and operations projects and develop client relationships as part of the advisory team.

• Lead and/or support (as needed) client and investment manager relationships and meeting preparation, note-taking, and follow-up.
• Be an active participant on the Natural Investments Investment Committee (2 hour meeting per quarter + preparation time).
• Participate in alternative investment due diligence subcommittee meetings and/or manager meetings as needed.
• Support and develop the practice’s marketing initiatives.

We believe in Equal Opportunity and encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other protected class.

Qualifications & Character

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Series 65 required or obtained shortly after joining
• CFP® designation obtained, in progress, or started after joining (an annual professional development stipend is available to support this and other finance-related education)
• Very strong technology skills and experience including Excel, AI, Windows, and web-based applications
• Strong knowledge and experience in finance, investments, economics, and behavioral finance
• Strong communication and collaboration skills and emotional intelligence
• Strong enthusiasm and commitment to working in the impact investing advisory field
• Self-organized, self-motivated, curious, independent thinker, and lifelong learner